NASA tests X-59 to suppress supersonic sonic booms

NASA is testing the X-59, an experimental aircraft designed to address the issue of sonic booms during supersonic flight. The aircraft features an elongated nose intended to flatten shockwaves into quieter, more tolerable sounds. This design aims to overcome the regulatory restrictions that previously limited supersonic jets, such as the Concorde, to flights over oceans and prevented them from using lucrative overland routes in the United States.

The X-59 continues a lineage of NASA X-planes dating back to 1947, including the Bell X-1, which was the first aircraft to break the sound barrier. NASA is conducting flight tests alongside community surveys to determine what level of noise is acceptable to the public for regular supersonic travel.